Baggage



Get. 10, 1933. v Ns 1,930,043

BAGGAGE Filed June 19. 1929 INVENTOR LEO .f. frfxvs ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 10, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in baggage, and more particularly to an improved handbag of a type which may be designated as a suit case, or wardrobe suit bag.

5 An object of this invention is to provide an improved article of hand baggage for travelers, adapted particularly for the carriage of mens suits and the like, in such a manner as to avoid creasing, and which will obviate the usual tendency for articles of this class to be displaced, or

shifted, while in transit.

A further object of this invention is to provide a traveling suit bag of such dimensions and shape as to afford special protection to the neck and shoulder portions of mens suits, while in transit.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a traveling suit bag of wardrobe type, which is designed to be conveniently carried by a shoulder strap or the like, so as to avoidinterference with leg movement of the person carrying the bag.

A still further object is to provide a wardrobe suit case of the generalatype referred to, which is peculiarly economical of space, and provided with novel and improved hanging and carrying means and which affords an unusual degree of accessibility and convenience of introducing thereto, and removing therefrom, articles of wearing apparel, such as mens suits.

An additional object of the invention is attained by the provision of forming a wardrobe suit bag substantially in conformity with the articles to be contained thereby; in the present example the bag or case is shaped according tothe space requirements of the different portions of mens clothing, thus preventing any tendency for the packed articles to shift, and at the same time best realizing upon the available space internal of the container.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the course of the description, considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view, in perspective, of a preferred form of suit bag constructed in accordance with the present invention, and showing the bag in open position; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of the bag showing a preferred construction thereof and Fig. 3 is a vertical section along the line 33 of Fig. 2, from which the contents are omitted for the sake of indicating clearly the internal construction, and shape of the device.

The invention is hereinafter described by reference to a specific type of traveling wardrobe suit 5 bag, constituting a typical embodiment of the invention. It will be understood, however, that the parts of the structure and their arrangement may be varied somewhat, within the scope and full intendment of the invention; that the essential features of the invention may be applied with equal advantage to certain other kinds of hand baggage, to trunks of certain varieties, and to other receptacles of at least a semi-permanent construction.

Referring now by reference characters to the drawing, the bag body, in the present example constituting the major portion of the article of luggage, is indicated generally at 4. A movable front member 5 is so formed as to complete the closure of the body of the bag, and may be hinged thereto by hinges of any suitable type (not shown), or by the equivalent thereof formed of the material constituting the body and the closure member; the hinge portion being indicated at 6. As will-be seen particularly from Fig. 3 of the drawing, the body member is, by preference, constructed of a general wedge shape, having a substantially greater depth at or near the top portion thereof, and gradually or progressively tapering downwardly toward the lower portion which, by preference, is of about one-half the depth or width of the upper portion of greatest depth. A top closure member '7 is preferably formed of a general arch shape, and by further preference, is formed with a central, upwardly extending portion 8 for a purpose which will hereinafter appear. The top portion 7 is of relatively rigid construction and may be constructed to include a reinforcing member 9, the shape of which corresponds to the shape of the type of bag desired- The body 4, closure member 5 and the top 7 of the bag may be formed of, or covered with leather, fibre or any flexible or semi-flexible substance of thevarieties usually employed in the manufacture of hand or other baggage. The body portion 4 may include, in addition to the front closure member, a back wall 10 and side portions 11, adapted, with the top, to complete the enclosure ofthe bag.

Provision for lifting and carrying the bag or case is found in a relatively short handle 12. In 106 addition to this carrying means, I provide a somewhat longer strap or handle which may be designated as a shoulder strap, portions of which are indicated at 13. By providing a strap 13 of adjustable length, I may, obviously, employ only a single carrying means which, by adjustment, may serve the purposes of both a handle and a shoulder strap.

As a means for supporting and positioning the articles of apparel within the case, I provide 110 a rod or rack 14, which may be secured, as by riveting, to the top portion of the case, and which is suspended therefrom to afford a clearance sufficient for the insertion and removal thereover of hooks or equivalent supporting devices employed in connection withone or a plurality of hangers 15, which may be of the usual or any suitable type.

While I have shown the body portion 4, of the bag or case, provided with a front-open closure member 5 for the insertion of clothing or the like through the front opening of the case, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the bag or case may be formed with parting lines extending along the side portions 11, whereby the bag body consists of a pair of related, mating portions to constitute a bag or case of the sideopen type.

As a means for securing the front closure member in closed position, I provide complementary stringers 16, by preference disposed on the bagbody and the front closure, the stringers being formed of a tape -like fabric, to which are attached a series of hook-like members, arranged in opposed relation on the coacting stringers, and adapted to be engaged and disengaged by means of a sliding element 17, there being by preference, one of such sliding elements on each side of the center of the bag. Opening and closing of the portion 5 may obviously be effected by sliding the elements 1'7 on the parting lines between the stringers 16, inone direction for locking, and in. the opposite direction for unlocking, the front closure member.

The contents of the case may be protected againsttheft by means of a padlock, (not shown) engaging in the present example, an eye or loop portion in each of the elements 17. With a case or bag of side open style, a similar securing and locking arrangement may be employed near the termini of the parting lines between the mating portions of the case. Obviously, any other suitable form of fastening and locking device may be employed to protect the contents of a case or receptacle of the general type described.

In the present example I show a bag body constructed particularly to resist external impact and rough handling. To this end the upper porwtion of the bag, in order better to protect, say

'the neck and shoulder portions of mens suits, is well reinforced. As best appears in Fig. 2, a

' covering of leather or the like 18 is located adjacent a backing 19, say of a relatively thin yet pliable substance such as a composition board. Immediately back of the layer 19, a reinfroce 20 is secured, which may be of a fairly rigid sheet steel. To prevent contact between the metal portion 20, .and garments within the bag, still another layer of the composition board 21 may be employed. The bag 'may obviously be lined in the customary manner, as by a suitable fabric (not shown).

At 22, as best appears in Fig. 3, I prefer to 7 provide a transverse .brace, corresponding, generally, in location to the hinge line 6, noted above, and which may be constructed of layers or portions corresponding to the members 18 to 21 inclusive, described in connection with the reinforcement of the upper bag portion. The member 22 serves to establish a limit of movement, and tends to prevent separation of the closure 5, from the body, along the line 6.

The manner and advantages of use of the bag described, will be at once apparent to those skilled in the art. The opening resulting from the size or width of the case, at or near its top portion,

provides ample space for a number of suits, enabling them to be protected against creasing or folding of the neck and shoulder portions. It will further be seen that the arch shape of the top portion 7 is substantially in conformance with that of the neck and shoulder portions of suits of mens clothing, in a manner to prevent lateral shifting thereof when packed. It is, of course, contemplated that the trousers of men's suits packedin the case, will be folded so as to add little, if any, to the space required bythe coat and vest within the case. By tapering the bag from top to bottom, as indicated by the drawing, the space near the bottom of the bag, which is not needed for the skirt portion or bottom of the suit, is minimized so as further to prevent shifting of the suit or suits while being carried. A further constructional advantage is provided for carrying the bag by a strap on the shoulder. The length of this member may be so proportioned as to permit location of the strap on one shoulder and carrying the bag on the opposite side of the body.

It will be seen that the article of baggage described, presents a number of novel features, among which may be noted the hanging device; an unusual economy of space; aparticular adaptability for the type of article to be carried thereby, and a construction conducing to accessibility and convenience in packing and unpacking, all in fulfillment of the several objects set forth above.

I claim as my invention:

1. A suit bag having a body of flexible material, the sides of the body being of downwardly tapering depth, an opening in said body, the opening being of fixed dimensions and extending substantially the width of the body, the upper end and upper side portions of the body comprising a substantially rigid U-shaped frame member adapted to reinforce and prevent distortion of the upper portion thereof, the transverse portion of the frame member being coextensive with the upper end wall of the bag and being curved downwardly to conform to the neck and shoulder portions of a suit; and a flexible closure for said opening. r

2. A substantially wedge-shaped hand bag or case adapted for carrying mens coats and the like, the case being formed of flexible material and a substantially rigid U-shaped frame-piece, adapted to fix the depth and width of the upper part of the case, the cross member of said framepiece being coextensivewith the upper end wall of the case and the side members of said framepiece'extending downwardly a fractional portion of, the length of the case, an internal hanger element and an external carrying handle secured to saidframe-piece, said case having an opening of substantially fixed dimensions for access to the interior thereof, said opening extending substantially the width of the case; a flexible closure for said opening, and fastening means for the closure.

3'. A hand bag adapted for carrying mens coats in upright position and unfolded, with the neckand-shoulder portions uppermost, the case being of tapered depth between its upper and lower ends, and having a substantially rigid U-shaped terior of the case, and extending substantially the width of the front thereof; a flexible closure forsaid opening, fastening means coextensive with the margins of said closure, and a handle secured to said frame-piece. e

4. A hand bag of substantially wedge shape for carrying mens coats in unfolded, upright position, including a substantially rigid U-shaped frame-piece adapted to reinforce the upper por- #3 tion of the bag, the cross member of said framepiece having a hollow projection formed medially thereof, means secured within said hollow projection. to support a coat hanger; a bag body of flexible material comprising a top wall coextensive with the cross member of said frame-piece, and front, back, and side walls extending a substantial distance below the ends of said framepiece, said front wall having an opening for access to the interior of the case, the opening ex tending substantially the full width, at the upper portion of said front wall, a flexible closure for said opening, and a handle secured to said frame-piece.

LEO E. EVENS. 

